I was overjoyed to submit the original product sample to huge Polar Express fan Mr. Tom Hanks for his feedback, which was a long process in itself! I cried when his assistant wrote to me to tell me that Tom loves the new Polar Express Gift Set!

So, it’s been a rewarding experience to bring this wonderful product to market and I truly appreciate the very kind thoughts. I would love to hear feedback after the holidays to know how the recipients respond to this gift set. Pictures are even better! For our customers that do share their feedback with us, we will enter you into our drawing for a $500.00 Visa Gift Card.

Thank you again so much! Happy holidays to you all… Merry Christmas!

Best wishes,

Christina Frueh
Founder
www.magicalbells.com

Visit: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime to hear the book reading. Bring out the tissues! (:

One of the most poignant was told to me five or six years ago at a book signing in the Midwest, on a snowy December evening. As I inscribed a book to a woman in her sixties, she told me that it was the second copy she had owned, and wanted to know if she could she tell me what had happened to the first. “Of course,” I answered.

A dozen years earlier the woman, who had no children of her own, befriended a neighbor, a boy of about seven, named Eddie. He would often cross his driveway to visit her.

She had a collection of picture books, which she read to him, but around the holidays, the only story he ever wanted to hear, over and over, was The Polar Express. One year she offered to give him the book, but Eddie declined because he wanted to hear her read it aloud to him, which she continued to do every year until the boy and his family moved away.

Years later the woman learned from a mutual acquaintance that Eddie had grown up and become a soldier. He was stationed in Iraq. Since Christmas was approaching, the woman decided to send him a gift box. She included candy, cookies, socks, and her old copy of The Polar Express. She wasn’t sure what a nineteen-year-old battle-weary soldier would do with the book in an army barracks in the Middle East, but she wanted him to have it. A month later, after the holidays had passed, she received a letter from Eddie.

He told her he was very happy to have heard from her and to get the box of gifts. He had opened it in his barracks, just before curfew, with some of his fellow GIs already in their bunks. A soldier in the next bunk spotted the book. He knew it well from his own childhood and asked Eddie to read it. “Out loud?” he asked. “Yeah,” his buddy told him.

Eddie, quietly and a little self-consciously, read The Polar Express. When he’d finished and closed the book, a moment of silence passed. Then from behind him a voice called out, “Read it again,” and another joined in, “Yeah, read it again,” and a third added, “This time, louder.” So Eddie did.

He wrote to the woman that he’d stood up and read it to his comrades just the way he remembered she had read it to him.

All aboard,

Chris Van Allsburg

The magic of Christmas is upon us.  Like so many, this my most favorite time of the year. As I’ve noted before, the reason that I created Magical Bells was for my son who’s only wish one year was a silver sleigh bell from Santa’s sleigh – just like the one in The Polar Express! His big blue eyes twinkled as he looked up at Santa with a hopeful grin.

As a mommy, I consider myself very resourceful. I looked high and low for what my son wanted most for Christmas and quite frankly, there was not an authentic option that was true to the story. What was a mom to do? I created my very own and Magical Bells was born.

I cannot begin to express my heartfelt thankfulness and gratitude to each and every person that loves my bells. The letters of appreciation that I receive from Santa’s around the world and the parents of children who thank me for letting their little ones continue to “believe”. My products are truly a labor of love and I cherish what they mean to those who love them.

Even my own son still believes! He tells everyone that will listen that his mommy makes sleigh bells for Santa! And with the notes and pictures from Santas to me, it makes for a believable story. So each year he writes a note to Santa specifying which “Magical Bell” he’d like to receive. This year it’s the Small Magical Bell with the red ribbon attached so that he can wear it to school to show all of his friends after the holiday break.

It makes me feel wonderful to know that for those who want to believe, both young and old, my sleigh bells can help to keep the magic alive!

Best wishes always and Merry Christmas!

Christina Frueh, Founder, www.magicalbells,com

For some children, this was their only Christmas gift.

Each year we choose a deserving charity to donate our bells to. From low income schools to “The Pajama Program”.

This year, we thought it would be a great idea to have our customers nominate their favorite charity. Simply purchase a Santa’s Classic Gift Set and in the “comments section” of your order form, nominate your favorite non-profit charity and let us know why you feel we should share this special gift with them. We need the full name of the charity, their address and phone number.  If your charity is chosen, we’ll send YOU a $300.00 Visa Gift Card! It’s our way of saying thank you for helping us make Christmas bright for a deserving charity!

Even as I write this, she is asleep with her bell in her hand. It has been with her incessantly since we put up our tree this year. In her letter to Santa this year, she began by thanking him for that wonderful gift. If ever there was a child who needed to believe…

Thank you again…as I know she will thank you too.

Peace and all good wishes,
~M.B.

Which brings me to the point of why I began Magical Bells. A few years back, our son sat on Santa’s lap, with his shiny bright blue eyes, and asked Santa for “just one thing”. A silver “Santa bell from his sleigh”. I’m a resourceful mom. I figured that a quick “Google Search” would do the trick. Nope, not the case. As you can imagine, I searched EVERYWHERE for an authentic Santa Sleigh Bell. I found a lot of poor quality jingle bells and really unattractive sleigh bells, none fit for Santa’s sleigh in my opinion! What was a mom to do? I created my very own! Each of our premium sleigh bells are heirloom-quality and truly a labor of love.

To this day, our son loves his “Bell from Santa”. He brings it out each Christmas and rings it loudly saying, “I BELIEVE! I BELIEVE!” Because this bell is made to last, we will save it for his child to pass on this very special holiday tradition.

So now children everywhere can have this special gift from Santa! Our sleigh bells are already jingling their way to homes all around the globe this holiday season! This is a testament to my school of thought that if you BELIEVE in yourself, anything is possible. Now what to do about those flimsy toys in that darn Toy’s R’ Us catalog. Hmmmm… Any suggestions?

From our family to yours,

Happy Holidays

When you choose Magical Bells sleigh bell products, you are buying peace of mind.

*Handicraft is a type of fabrication process where items are made completely by hand or using only simple tools. The individual craftsmanship of the items is of paramount concern. The use of hands and hand tools impart an individuality to each item otherwise lacking in manufactured goods. Items made by mass production or machines are not considered handicrafts.

Last year I purchased one of your Santa’s Classic Gift Sets that I then gave to a very deserving little boy, who had lost his father earlier in the year and then was disowned by his stepmother. I presented this “The First Gift of Christmas” to this deserving young boy.

At that time you said you would like to donate the bell each year for The First Gift of Christmas here in Kansas City, which I thought was more than generous. If that offer still stands, I would like to move forward on that for this year.

The First Gift of Christmas is given on Thanksgiving Eve at the “Christmas in the Sky” event in Kansas City. It is the official kickoff to the Christmas season and we usually have 30,000-40,000 people in attendance, Christmas music and performances, Santa’s arrival by helicopter and a huge fireworks display to close the evening.

Your bell is so beautiful and it is such an honor for me to be able to give it to a very deserving young person, who has had such a difficult year. Thank you for making such a wonderful and meaningful gift.

Always in the Spirit of Christmas,

Santa Chris Shaeffer, Kriss-Kringle.com

A note from Magical Bells Founder Christina Frueh:

Dear Santa,

Your special bell is jingling its was to Kansas City! I am more than honored to provide this gift to a deserving youngster each year.

Happy holidays! (:

Did you know that here are more than 1700 heroes that are waiting for adoption? For more information, please visit the The Soldier’s Agent Network at soldiersangels.org May no soldier go unloved.

Today, Santa’s Classic Gift Set is on stage five at http://www.renmarstudios.com filming – so exciting! I’ll be sure and let you know when the commercial airs! I feel like a proud mommy! (:

Best wishes,

Christina Frueh

Twenty-five Santa’s set sail on a cruise ship to “Santa’s House” in North Pole, Alaska. Each Santa wore a “Magical Sleigh Bell” around their necks as a symbol to others on the ship to always BELIEVE in the spirit of Christmas.

Two Santa’s and their wives, one couple having been married for 39 years, the other 43 years, wanted to renew their wedding vows while at The North Pole in a special outdoor ceremony. At The North Pole, with all 25 Santa’s in attendance, the couples were each given a “Magical Wedding Bell” to serve as a cherished reminder of this special occasion. After the vows were renewed, instead of clapping, all of the Santa’s rang their “Magical Sleigh Bells” and the couples rang their “Magical Wedding Bells”!

Click photos to enlarge.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Magical Bells were declared to be the “Official Sleigh Bells for Santa Clause”. The favorite “Santa Bell” is the replica of The Polar Express bell, sold in our “Santa’s Classic Gift Set”. No Santa had been able to find the exact replica of the bell from this beloved story until now. They were thrilled with the size, shape, quality and sound of all our handcrafted Magical Bells. An honor for sure, given their combined years as professional Santa’s and the amount of bells they’ve seen and used in their careers!

According to the Santa’s, Magical Bells allowed them to create magical memories that will last a lifetime. And because Magical Bells are heirloom-quality, they will last as cherished keepsakes, making their special Santa Cruise and The North Pole ceremony simply unforgettable.

All of our sleigh bells are a labor of love and we are just thrilled to be able to share them with families all over the world.

• Polar Express Bells for gifts, charity events, Polar Express parties, special events and more.
• “The first gift of Christmas” for children and adults of all ages.
• Giveaway bells from Santa at holiday parties, charity events, Polar Express Train Rides and more.
• Holiday wreaths – they jingle when the door is opened and closed.
• Festive fireplace mantel garland with bells, red bows and candles.
• Classic Christmas tree ornaments and unique floral arrangements.
• Embellish a champagne gift bag with sleigh bells. Ring in the New Year with these classic bells!
• Unique and beautiful wedding bells that ring with crisp, magical tones.
• Harness Bells: Horses have been decorated with sleigh bells for centuries for both decorative and practical purposes. Many of our clients choose to make their own unique harness bells and saddle chimes utilizing our Large and Small Arts & Crafts bells.
• And more!

Please contact us to tell us how you are using our products, we’d love to hear from you!

The love and trust in my son’s eyes is what inspires me to produce safe products of uncompromising quality. Christina Frueh, Founder ~ MagicalBells.com

We launched MagicalBells.com in November 2007 and the response to our products has been overwhelming. Each of our heirloom-quality sleigh bells are truly a labor of love.

Magical Bells are handcrafted, heirloom-quality sleigh bells. Our products are designed, produced and distributed exclusively by IMPACT FACTORY LLC; a respected and dependable family owned and operated company since 2001. We pride ourselves on premium products, superior customer service and fast shipping. That’s why our customers come back to order Magical Bells sleigh bell products again and again.

New for 2010! Complete your MAGICAL GIFTS with our Special Gifts with Purchase! Purchase any of our Holiday Sleigh Bells and you will have access to our exclusive “FREE Gifts Download Page” where you can choose from four letters from Santa – 2 black and white and 2 colorful ones. You can choose to personalize your own, or use our pre-printed message from Santa. Each year we strive to make our products the very best in the marketplace. These new “gifts with purchase” are our way of saying “thank you for choosing Magical Bells Sleigh Bell Products”.

I created this blog so that I could share and learn with you, our valued customer. We would love to receive pictures and your stories of how you are utilizing our special products.

From our family to yours, thank you for your interest in Magical Bells and Happy Holidays!

Best wishes,

Christina Frueh
Founder
www.MagicalBells.com